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There was a slight tremble in his voice as he uttered the date, considering it was the day his niece, Annabelle, took her life all those years ago.
“Do you know how many people in this country committed suicide on March third of this year?” He looked at us, pausing for a beat. “187. And of those 187, seventy-five were female. And of those seventy-five, half were college students.”
He closed the notebook, returning it, along with his glasses, to his pocket. Then he leaned across the table, his gray eyes intense.
“Do you see what I’m getting at here? While it’s suspicious, it’s not enough. Not for local law enforcement agencies to consider the possibility they were wrong. That their forensics were wrong. We need more to go on. Until then…” He shook his head, “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”
“So it’s over?” I asked, trying to mask my frustration.
While I wasn’t sure what I’d hoped Agent Curran would share with me, I hadn’t expected to learn there would be absolutely no investigation. I understood Claire’s theory wasn’t iron-clad, that there could be another explanation for everything. But my gut said there was something to it.
“What about Nikko? Detective Kekoa?” I corrected. “He’s Piper Kekoa’s older brother and a homicide detective. Confirmed the jewelry I received five years ago belonged to his sister. Can’t you reach out to him? See if he can invite you in or something?”
“I spoke with Detective Kekoa yesterday,” Agent Curran responded.
His even tone was at complete odds with the dread settling in my stomach over the prospect of this continuing for months, maybe years. Of getting a phone call telling me I’d received another package. Another piece of jewelry taken from another woman who was no longer breathing.
“What did he say?” Wes inquired.
“His department is currently evaluating whether to reopen the investigation into the home invasion that resulted in Ms. Kekoa’s death. His lieutenant hasn’t made her final decision, but considering Ms. Kekoa’s ties to law enforcement, my guess is it’s likely they will.”
“So that’s good,” I said. “They can invite you to help then, right?”
“Perhaps they eventually will. But they’ll want to conduct their own investigation first. Hopefully it will uncover something that could tie Ms. Kekoa’s death to these other women.”
“Other than the fact Julia was sent her necklace,” Wes snapped.
“Yes,” Agent Curran calmly answered. “But as I’ve reminded you, there’s no physical evidence connecting the women to those pieces of jewelry. I’m not trying to burst your bubble, but it’s important to play devil’s advocate so we know what we’re up against. It’s possible for someone to argue that an individual saw a story about a woman committing suicide, fixated on that woman, saw a social media photo of her wearing a particular piece of jewelry, and decided to have a replica made to send to Julia.”
Wes opened his mouth, most likely to argue the ridiculousness of that theory, but Agent Curran held up his hand, stopping him before he could get a word out.
“I understand it’s a stretch, especially considering family members did indicate a certain piece of jewelry was missing after their death. I’m simply trying to give you the arguments we can expect. That I’ve already faced.”
“So we’re just supposed to sit around and do nothing while this guy targets another woman to kill on October thirteenth?” I shook my head, the entire scenario feeling patently unfair.
“I didn’t say that,” Agent Curran stated, lips twitching with the hint of a smile. “I simply said my hands were tied in this matter at present. Luckily, we know someone with investigative skills who doesn’t have the same restrictions I do.” He glanced toward Ethan.
“You’re going to help?” I asked him.
Ethan nodded. “Of course. I want justice for Claire. I won’t stop until I get it.”
“Mr. Shore doesn’t have to answer to anyone but himself,” Agent Curran explained. “So he’s offered to continue the investigation Claire began. Comb through every aspect of these women’s lives. Something connects them. We’re going to turn over every single leaf until we figure out what that is.
“Once we do, we’ll find this bastard and make him pay.”
